The sounds of any musical genre can emerge from the saxophone of Claflin University freshman Da’Shaun Carroll.

From his renditions of classical composer Johann Sebastian Bach to the contemporary soul of John Legend, Mr. Carroll serenaded the audience at a scholarship benefit concert in Spartanburg on Nov. 8.

Mr. Carroll was selected as the feature performer at the concert by the Spartanburg Chapter of the Links, Inc., a national non-profit organization committed to enhancing their respective communities.

Mr. Carroll was amazed to be featured in the concert at the young age of 19, but he was nonetheless glad to help.

“I’m always a fan of doing something to help the community,” Mr. Carroll said.  “It was amazing.”

Musically, he has always been beyond his years.  He joined a group called the Carolina Cool Jazz Orchestra as a sophomore in high school.  Mr. Carroll says some of the band members were twice as old as him.

Since coming to Claflin, Mr. Carroll said his musical ability has grown astronomically.

He said his professors have gotten him to do something he did not normally do – practice.  Mr. Carroll said he has learned to play notes precisely and brought more musical genres into his repertoire.

A graduate of Spartanburg High School, Mr. Carroll had been accepted into both Julliard and The Berklee School of Music in Boston.   However, he could not afford to attend either of the schools.  That’s when his grandmother, Ethel Lee, discovered Claflin at a college fair.

Soon thereafter, Dr. Richard House, Director of University Bands, asked Mr. Carroll to audition.

Dr. House came away impressed and offered him a full scholarship to attend Claflin.  Mr. Carroll was likewise thrilled with Dr. House and the Clafin University Music Department.

“Da’Shaun has a lot of ability and talent,” Dr. House said.

Dr. House noted Mr. Carroll is often called upon to play solos during band performances.

Mr. Carroll, Claflin University junior Corley Moore and Morehouse University student Kyle Moore also have a group called TRUTH, which stands for Talent Released Using The Heart.  In addition to playing several solo performances at the benefit concert, Mr. Carroll also played a selection of songs with his group, such as Coldplay’s Viva La Vida and Can You Stand the Rain by Boyz II Men.

He says TRUTH likes to use everyday songs and make them their own.

“We mix in our own feel and throw in some progressions,” he said.

His largest musical influence is legendary saxophone player Cannonball Adderley.   Some of Mr. Carroll’s fellow band mates have called him “Mini-Can” because his music resembles Cannonball Adderley.

Originally from Virginia, Mr. Carroll began cultivating his musical gift in elementary school, where he was a member of the Pine Street Elementary School Honor Band.  At age 13, he started to play in groups and at other functions outside school.

In the future, Mr. Carroll wants to continue his musical education by enrolling in graduate school at Juilliard.  Along with his friend and future Claflin alumni Mr. Corley Moore, he wants to open up jazz academies across the world for underprivileged children.

He believes those academies can help children that grew up just like him. But for right now, Mr. Carroll wants to perform at more concerts and continue to improve his musical prowess at Claflin.

“Claflin has helped me progress a lot,” he said.  “Since I’ve been here, it has been awesome.”